Raumkreuz aus 12 gleichen Teilen

Raumkreuz aus 12 gleichen Teilen is a granite sculpture by Swiss artist Max Bill, created in 1986 for Utrecht’s former Catharijneconvent. The work stands in the first courtyard. Twelve identical granite beams form six layers, with two beams crossing at right angles in each layer. Their geometry gives the sculpture a clear structure. From a corner, the arrangement looks solid, while a straight side reveals its open construction. Light and mass change with your viewpoint. Bill’s mathematical approach reflects constructivism, an art movement shaped by geometric principles and influenced by Dutch artists such as Mondrian and Van Doesburg. The granite meets a former late Gothic monastery. Catharijneconvent now houses a museum of religious art, bringing the modern sculpture beside historical architecture and objects. The setting links geometric form with contemplation. Max Bill was a Swiss architect, painter, graphic artist, sculptor and writer, and a prominent Bauhaus student. This work belongs to Utrecht’s public art collection.